Disneyland Paris on a budget?

[abonymousAnon]

My son is turning 8 and I really want to take him to Disneyland Paris but it’s so expensive! I only did a quick search and it showed me for park tickets (1 day only), flights and hotel for one night will be over 2k! Any ideas how we can do it cheaper? Or is this standard? Family of 3.

No, you need a car. They are hit and miss at allowing Uber's, but depending where the lodge you are allocated is, it could mean a very long walk in the dark, possibly accompanied by a troupe of wild boar at night.

Echoing a poster above though, next year isn't an ideal time, there are lots of improvements being made within the park, lots closed, lots of things with boards in front of them, the village itself is being revamped and Frozen Land finished off.
2026 is a much better prospect.

Thanks! We will be doing Florida in a couple of years so kind of want to do DP before the window of opportunity for it passes. Kids are still fairly young so think whatever is there will be enough for them and we aren't really wedded to any particular rides so will just take it as it comes! Good to know though, will check it out nearer the time.

Buffets are at least €45 a head. Even with a AP discount you’re not getting them for €30!

Just to say the Eurostar no longer goes direct from London - you will have to transfer.

Last time I was there was April this year, with the infinity pass that had not yet expired, yes the discount came down to 30 a head. I've not returned to renew because of the ongoing works so I wont renew my pass until 2025 now, but appreciate the AP discounts will be less.

Cowboy Cookout for example was about €35 a meal so just under €30 with discount. Marvel about the same but prices in the buffets have since increased.

I did say I had an annual pass, I didn't mention the infinity discount. My apologies.

Of course - I’d forgotten that! OP will need to find a decent size supermarket if she needs fresh milk!

You can go in early December to the Hotel Cheyenne , one of the cheaper Disney hotels , 3 people for 2 nights / 3 days for about £800 , so it is the transport bumping up your costs . Frankly if you can drive in the UK you can get to DLP . It’s a very easy drive on the toll roads and takes about 3 hours from Calais .

you can’t take any dairy (though I accidentally bought butter with me once).
pretty much next to the park is Val De Europe, a huge shopping centre with a large Auchon. It has ample parking, but if you aren’t in the car then the train stops there too.

ive picked up a small shop from the services on the road into Paris before. It is a bit more expensive but we usually travel on a Sunday and Auchon closes early so I grab bread, butter and milk to keep us going.

WRT Big Thunder Mountain being closed next year , yes it’s a good ride but all the rides are on a rolling improvement schedule so something is always likely to be shut .

It is, but there is so many other things being done it feels like you’re not getting the full experience.
earlier this year the studios felt like it was all hoardings at one point.
The village improvements will be ongoing, Sports Bar is closing and with Frozen land due to open early 2026 it seems a better option to hold on.

We are going end of November, booked hotel direct with Disney 2 nights and 3 days park ticket, Disney express baggage drop off and photo pass for £898 and then flights for £250. 2 adults and 1 child.

we did Eurostar last year and found it a faff no it doesn’t go direct to Disney, and not much cheaper than train once you factor in travelling to London

edit to say we are staying at Cheyenne

It definitely doesn't need to cost that much.

Cheap easyJet flights are £60 per person, stay in hotel in Paris (one night approx £100) and get train into Disneyland (very easy to do) approx £20 and tickets into Disneyland £180 ish.

So total cost £450 -£500 ish (including food.)

@REOspeeddealer the village has been ongoing for ages , we go quite often so the odd ride isn’t a big issue .

Cheapest option overall if you can’t drive will probably be a coach trip if there are any leaving near you, with a stay at one of the two cheaper Disney hotels. Usually cheaper overall if you are wanting to visit Disney every day of your stay, as they include tickets.

Food doesn’t have to be extortionate, there’s McDonald’s and sandwich places just outside, and snacks within the park, just the buffet and sit down dining are super expensive but if you’re on a budget just don’t go there.

Yeah the balloon went the other week too. Shame about the sports bar though, always a good place to spend an evening.
For me I'd rather have a year out and renew the AP in 2026, though I'll probably head for Disneyland Anaheim again instead next year.

Do they ever do black friday offers? Looking to go next year.

My husband just did it with my daughter. Not going to lie , he spent a huge amount ( on shit I know I will throw away)

He never bothered with the meal stuff- there are apparently hot dog stands and pretzel stuff. My daughter ate junk for 3 days ( loved it but now has the runs..)

The feedback for me for me was dont do the Disney packages. Just find a hotel nearby and get your day passes. My dh did two nights at one and was made to pay for three day passes . He said next time he wouldn't bother and just do normal hotel.
He didn't do fast passes , and the queues were not so bad with lots going on . My daughter coped well apparently ( dad got furious I was told) . His biggest expense was the gift shops.... prep for that .

My dh thinks he spent 2k for 3 days. It's intense

@sofasofa42 the Disney hotels pricing is done with a pass for everyday of your stay . It would likely end up more expensive if the hotels and passes were priced separately . Which day did they not want to use ?

Driving is going to be cheaper and is very simple if you live in the se, from elsewhere you need to do the maths. Staying offsite is cheapest usually but the Davy Crockett ranch works out ok if you drive (no buses there) and it has self catering facilities to save you £££. Food in the park is pricy though the large McDonald's in the Disney village is standard French prices (higher than U.K. but ok). Flying is always going to help expensive

cowboy cookout isn’t a buffet.

marvel buffet was about €50 in June.

NOPE. Thay don’t need to.

best prices are always on release so you’re better off booking ASAP.

Driving and staying at Davey Crockett is the cheapest way to do it.

You can do 4 days, 3 nights for about £1200.